Narrative of the Most Remarkable Events Which Occurred In and Near Leipzig eBook

If you now take into the account the state of the
city in a financial point of view, you may judge how
dreadful its condition in general must have been.
In no town is a better provision made for the indigent
than in Leipzig. Here were poor-houses, under
most judicious regulations, where food, fire, and
lodging, were afforded. These buildings were
converted into hospitals, their inmates were obliged
to turn out, and at length the necessitous were deprived
of their scanty allowance—­the funds were
exhausted, and no fresh supplies received. The
citizen sunk under the weight of his burdens; it was
impossible to lay any new ones upon him. Among
the different sources of income enjoyed by the city,
the author knows of one which at each of the two principal
fairs commonly produced 4000 dollars; whereas the
receipts from it at the late Michaelmas fair fell
short of 100 dollars. All the other branches of
revenue, whether belonging to the king or to the city,
fared no better.

Such was the state of a city, which a few years since
might justly be numbered among the most opulent in
Germany, and whose resources appeared inexhaustible.
It may be considered as the heart of all Saxony, on
account of the manifold channels for trade, manufactures,
and industry, which here meet as in one common centre.
Hence the commerce of Saxony extends to every part
of the globe. With the credit of Leipzig, that
of all Saxony could not fail to be in a great measure
destroyed. Had this state of things continued
a little longer, absolute ruin would probably have
ensued, as the total suspension of trade would certainly
have occasioned the removal of all the yet remaining
monied men. So low, however, the city was not
destined to fall. The fatal blow already impended
over Leipzig, which was on the point of being reduced
to a heap of ashes. Black storm-clouds gathered
thick around it; but they passed off; and a new sun,
the cheering hope of better times, burst forth.
Large bodies of troops are yet within our walls; and
they are a heavy burden to the impoverished inhabitants,
under their present circumstances. We shall,
however, be relieved of some part of it, on the reduction
of the fortresses upon the Elbe, which the enemy may
yet defend for some time, though without any other
prospect than that of final surrender, and of wielding
for the last time his desolating arms on the shores
of that river. Symptoms of reviving trade and
commerce begin at least to appear. The gates
are no longer beset with the Argus eyes of French
inspectors. The patient indeed, brought as he
has been to the very gates of death, is yet extremely
weak, and requires the aid of crutches. Long
will it be before he is free from pain, but his recovery
is sure: he has quitted the close sick room, and
is now consigned to better care, to the hands of Prudence
and Philanthropy, who are acquainted with his condition,
and will infallibly restore him to his former health
and vigour.